Bonnie Forest, Pine Grove Neighborhoods Prepare for Clean Sweep

Community members are coming together this weekend to clean up the Bonnie Forest and Pine Grove communities. 

It's the neighborhood's Annual Clean Sweep — a time for residents to clean out their attics and garages and get rid of bulky items.

Richland County Special Services will patrol the area Saturday and pick up items that aren't accepted by regular trash services — anything from tires to furniture. 

"So basically, it's like everything that you wanted to throw away but you said, 'Well, maybe next year,'" said Edward Brown, vice president of Bonnie Forest Citizens for Change. "These are things that would normally have to be taken to the city dump." 

Residents must have the items by the road on Friday night. Acceptable items include refrigerators, stoves and air conditioners (known as white goods), tires, yard waste and furniture. The county asks that residents place white goods, yard waste and bulk items in separate piles.

Items prohibited are hazardous waste, batteries, explosives, computers, electronic items and any liquid wastes. 

Starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, prisoners from one of the minimum-security prisons will bring county trucks along to pick up the items, Brown said. 

Workers will have lunch at the Pine Grove Community Center at noon, and the clean sweep will end around 2 p.m., Brown said. Anyone who wants to volunteer, can help pass out food during lunchtime. Volunteers should meet at the . 

Bonnie Forest Citizens for Change started the clean sweep about five years ago in an effort to get more input from people in the neighborhood, Brown said. 

For more information call Brown at 803-446-9990 or Cynthia Faust with Richland County at 803-576-2442.